The following FAQ's relate to Symphony stain

Can I use High Sierra or Capture Log Stain on the interior logs?

Yes, both products may be used on the interior. Both need to be top-coated with Symphony to give the best appearance and give the protection you need on the interior of your home.

Can I use Symphony on anything other than the walls? Why or why not?

As Symphony is currently formulated, we recommend it only for wall areas, not walking surfaces or for furniture. It is generally not tough enough to withstand heavy foot traffic and give the kind of durable performance that most people would expect for an interior floor finish. As for furniture, in most cases Symphony would perform well, but there may be occasions when the furniture surface might be exposed to significant exposure to hot liquids or prolonged exposure to some chemicals such as cleaning products that could soften or damage the coating. With these limitations in mind, it is best to use Symphony on wall areas only.

Can I use Transformation on the interior of my home?

No. The solvents used can remain very toxic smelling over time so it should not be applied in enclosed spaces. Sashco’s High Sierra and Capture Log Stain are water based products particularly suited for interior use. We recommend top coating High Sierra and Capture Log Stain with Sashco's Symphony.

Do I have to stain my logs before applying Symphony?

No, you don’t absolutely have to. Many people enjoy the look of the natural logs. However, one should be aware that the underlying wood itself can shift in color over time. If you don’t want to see this shift in color, it would be best to apply a light coat of a compatible stain (like Sashco’s High Sierra or Capture Log Stain) prior to applying Symphony.

Does Symphony raise the grain of the wood?

Very little, if at all. If the grain is raised too much to your liking, you may sand between coats with a fine grit sand paper.

Does Symphony yellow or build up?

No, Symphony is a non-yellowing and only requires one application, so build-up is not an issue.

How is Symphony different than other interior products?

Symphony is formulated to be compatible with all of our chinking and sealant products. Other interior clear products may have additives that will cause problems with adhesion of these. Symphony is also formulated to be more flexible than many interior clears to better handle the movement that typically occurs in logs.

How many coats of Capture Log Stain / Cascade should I use? Why?

On the exterior, one should spray on and back brush in 2 HEAVY coats of Capture Log Stain followed by one heavy coat of Cascade sprayed on with runs brushed out. When the product is applied heavily it is able to build sufficient film thickness to protect the wood and provide several years of good performance. One coat is generally too thin, leading to less durability, which means more frequent re-staining will be necessary.

On the interior, one coat either brushed or sprayed on is sufficient, followed by one to two coats of the Symphony clear coat.

How many coats of Symphony do I need to apply?

It depends on the look you want for your logs. Normally, 2 coats of Symphony will give your logs both the look and protection you want. You can certainly do 1-2 more coats to increase the sheen or the thickness of the coating on the walls.

If Capture Log Stain collects a lot of dust on the interior, won’t it do the same on the exterior?

Capture Log Stain alone will remain relatively tacky compared to Capture Log Stain that is also top-coated with Cascade. A coat of Cascade on the exterior, or Symphony on the interior, will greatly reduce or eliminate this problem (plus enhance the overall appearance dramatically).

Is Symphony tintable?

Symphony is tintable with universal pigments found in most paint stores. Always test the color in a small, inconspicuous area of your home first to make sure it’s the look you want. Also, be aware that, because you are adding the pigments, the ultimate color is up to you and Sashco cannot be responsible if the desired color is not achieved and more product needs to be purchased.

What is the difference between Symphony and a polyurethane? Which should I use?

Most people think of a solvent-borne coating when they say polyurethane – like Flecto's Varathane, as one example among many. These products are based on various types of oxidizing (or drying) oils that are urethane modified. They dry quite slowly, remaining tacky for several hours, typically. These types of products are rapidly falling out of favor for interior use because of the solvent/odor problems associated with using them indoors – especially since water-borne clear coatings can perform very well on interiors. Once dry, they do perform well, having very good chemical resistance, toughness, and gloss.

When water-borne polyurethane resins are used in typical architectural applications, they are blended with acrylic water-borne resins in order to keep the price more moderate. The urethane imparts more toughness and chemical resistance to the film. However, newer acrylic chemistries have recently been introduced that do not need a boost from a urethane to achieve very good levels of toughness and chemical resistance for non-walking areas.

Our Symphony is based on just such a high performing, self-crosslinking acrylic polymer. It delivers very good toughness and chemical resistance (along with its other good performance properties). And acrylic coatings are the most “breathable” coatings out there. Symphony delivers all the performance needed for all non-walking areas. For flooring applications, it is still best to use a product high in polyurethane content (either water- or solvent-borne) for the best in scratch and scuff resistance. One nice thing to know is that with Symphony there is no risk whatsoever of being exposed to any residual isocyanate that might exist in polyurethane coatings (even though the isocyanate levels are usually microscopically low).

What is the difference between Symphony gloss and satin?

The difference is in the level of sheen. Symphony “gloss” is shinier than the “satin” version.

Why can’t I use Cascade on the inside of my house?

Cascade was designed for exterior use. It is a “beefy” product formulated with mildewcides and fungicides, not appropriate for interior applications. Our product, Symphony, is an interior clear coating formulated to enhance the beauty of the interior wood by giving it what is called “depth of image” .

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